The Bakery: The Dangers of Riding in TIght Pants
I like men who ride in tight jeans. I enjoy watching them struggle to pull their jeans up over their kneepads, I think because it looks roughly as awkward and exposed as I feel when I’m peeing in the woods.
I am not really one to worry much about what other people ride in, aside from a slight jealousy when I see 16-year-old boys looking better in tight pants than I do, but a simple Google search reveals scads of people with strong opinions about this particular fashion choice in our riding community.
There is nothing that ages you more than criticizing the fashion choices of a new generation, and yet there are pages and pages of references to “girl jeans”, emo kids, and the superiority of riding in tights. Among these opinionated folk there also seems to be some debate about the appropriate age for tight pants. Forum experts weigh-in with everything from no appropriate age, to you have to be pre-pubescent, or pre-thirty. This is something I probably should be taking into account.
Are fashion trends really all that dangerous to our health? We still see girls in stilettos regardless of all the public safety announcements about the damage they can do to our feet, legs, and backs. I decided to spend some time researching the dangers of riding in tight pants. The Internet will have you believe that there are some real disadvantages to making yourself into a mountain biking sausage, and some of them are kind of gross.
The Bakery: I’ve Found Religion
I’m not what you would consider a religious person. In fact the last time I was in church the priest interrupted the marriage ceremony to tell me not to stand on God’s furniture to take photos. I think God would want you to have nice wedding photos, don’t you? There’s also the small matter of religion rejecting me before I could reject it. My parents tried to have me baptized because it seemed like the right thing to do, unfortunately the minister in our small town refused because I was a bastard; my parents weren’t married. The little old ladies were up in arms over it and protested, but the minister held his ground. Good for him for believing in something. For me it took a little longer to find somewhere I wanted to be every Sunday.
The Bakery: My Mom is the Bob Barker of Mexico
My mom is the Bob Barker of Mexico. If your dogs aren’t spayed or neutered, she will get on her bike and hunt you down. Truth.
Ten years ago my mom started rescuing dogs in her village in Mexico. Five years ago she got a bike and a friend, and now rescues dogs in the surrounding towns. LaRae and Donna may seem like your average Mexico living, cruiser bike-riding, margarita-loving, cookie-making moms, but they’re not.
At the age of 56 my mom discovered biking when Fibromyalgia stopped her from participating in other activities. I helped her pick out a sweet pink cruiser bike, suitable for her retired life in Mexico. Within a few months she started asking for a better seat, then a mirror, then a computer to track her mileage. Mileage? Really? She was riding upwards of 20 kilometers a day, sending me photos from the middle of cow herds, mud puddles and new spots that she had once thought were much too far to ride to. One of her favorite stops when she comes home now is my local bike shop. Her most recent acquisition was a basket, but not one of those trendy wicker ones, nope. Mom needed a basket with support, one that can hold a lot of dog food, or a dog when needed.
The Bakery: For the Love of Independent Bike Shops
Six years ago I showed up on the doorstep of my local bike shop and sheepishly admitted that I had broken up with my boyfriend before I had learned to fix my own bike.
Six years later I probably spend a little too much time there. I have been known to show up at their Christmas parties and the coffee place next door gives me a staff discount. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your name, or some variation of it. They hassle you and high-five you. They give you hugs and lectures about not taking better care of your ride. They are family.
They are so much my family that I have introduced boyfriends to my dad before I have taken them to my bike shop. True story.
The Bakery: The Power of Not Giving a F*ck
Be more like a skateboarder–that’s the latest life advice I have been given. Apparently I need to take a page from skate culture and learn how to not give a fuck. Mountain bikers are just too caring.
In an attempt to embrace these new words of wisdom and learn how to not give a fuck, I recently asked a friend who works in the skate industry to teach me.
He didn’t show up, because, clearly, he doesn’t give a fuck.
Bike Mag: What I'd do for a Bike Hat
2. I would show you a boob, but just one.
3. I would show you both boobs.
Rig Life: The Full Story
Vid: Karla
Marx Conditioning
Pinkbike: Complete
Diagnosed with a complete spinal cord injury following a crash at the Jeep King of the Mountain race in 2007, Tara Llanes has worked hard to build a complete life without limitations. After years of a successful professional BMX and downhill racing career, including 2 US national championships, 4 World Championship medals and 4 ESPN X-Games medals, Tara has developed a focus and drive that continues to serve her in every challenge she faces. Most recently Tara is preparing to get back on technical riding trails for the first time since her accident.
Read more on pinkbike.com
Vancouver to Canmore. . . Almost
My 6 day, 900km solo bike tour from North Vancouver to Canmore, Alberta was cut short when I was found unconscious on the highway just outside of Merritt.
I left North Vancouver in the afternoon on a Thursday and spent half the day trying to avoid traffic jams and construction sites. I consulted my iphone for directions often, and made ambiguous turn after ambiguous turn though residential neighborhoods to find my way safely out of the city. I must have looked lost and confused, since a man with a bike loaded down with garbage bags of cans and a beard that looked like it’d been around since the ’80′s stopped peeing off his bike long enough to turn and ask if I needed help. I make friends everywhere I go.
Read more on CCNbikes.com
Bike Mag: Jump Ship
Jump Ship, a Silver stop in the FMB World Tour, saw over 20 professional riders flock to the jump-filled barge in Victoria Harbor, British Columbia.
The battle for first place in the slopestyle event was a tight competition between Brandon Semenuk and Mike Montgomery–who just came off a win at the Teva Mountain Games. In the end, Semenuk came out on top by just under three points. Montgomery did however win the best trick contest on Day 2 with a butter-smooth 720 (See video bottom of page).
Check out more of my photos on bikemag.com
First Ripper of the Year
I was lucky enough to get a lift in James' truck (Obsession Bikes) for the start of the race.
Thank-you to awesome photographer Corey Toews for this photo!
There were some bunnies. . .
. . . and a hospital patient. . .
. . . even Joan of Arc made an appearance!
Lots of riders braved the snowy conditions for the event and had an awesome time!
Even my boss, Kelli (Endless Biking)!
The organizers liked the snow too!
Thank-you to all of the volunteers, ripper participants and the other photographers, it was definitely a Ripper to remember!More photos!
Portraits from the Bike Park
David Garibaldi
Tonight I attended an art show by David Garibaldi at the Oh My Godard Gallery on Granville Street, what an amazing artist. David 'performs' but putting on an inspiring show of painting while rocking out to loud music and encouragement from the audience, his performances are called 'Rhythm and Hue'.
I was lucky to be able to attend the show with my brother, and thanks to him, I got to meet the artist. David's performance was unique and very exciting to see, if you get a chance to see David perform, go see it!
This isn't as good as the live show, but you can catch some clips of his performances here.
David Garibaldi, Chris (my brother) and Brandon (David's manager)
